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In reply to the discussion: Robot sex would lead to objectification and mistreatment of women [View all]MineralMan
(146,192 posts)First, any sex robot with enough similarity to a real human being will be so expensive that nobody will be able to afford one. Those who could afford to buy one are probably already able to find willing human partners for sex.
Second, the very best humanoid robots today are so clearly non-human that the idea of them replacing human interactions is laughable. I follow this technology pretty closely. The Japanese have built some decent simulacra, but they're still clumsy and mechanical in their movements, facial expressions and voices. Interesting technology, but not convincing.
Third, there are already quite a few devices used by people for sexual purposes. Most are clearly not attempting to be complete substitutes for human interactions, and they're selling like hotcakes. Even catalogs targeting elderly people have pages of sexual devices in them. They're ubiquitous, cheap, and pretty effective, apparently.
People taking sexual release into their own hands, so to speak, have always been around. It's pretty much a universal thing. No elaborate technology is required to achieve an orgasm. So, why on Earth would people pay the equivalent of the cost of a new car for a clumsy simulation of a human being?
I realize that this is the topic of the day on DU, but it's really a silly issue. I can't see how technologically assisted masturbation is going to affect how people relate to each other, really. I think it's a false concern, frankly.